"Assisted by essential commentary from the author John Krakauer, the directors poke fun at the psychology of extremity, zeroing in on push-the-limits personalities for whom calculating risk is a way of life"

Blockbuster 3D action film Everest currently stands at #1 in the UK box office, gaining momentum after last week's stateside wide release. While Oscar pundits frequently deem the film this year's Gravity, the best-selling author John Krakauer doesn't parse words: "It's total bull."

Mount Meru's Shark Fin has seen more failed attempts by elite climbing teams over the past 30 years than any other ascent in the Himalayas. To undertake Meru, Krakauer says, "you can't just be a good ice climber. You can't just be good at altitude. You can't just be a good rock climber. It's defeated so many good climbers and maybe will defeat everybody for all time. Meru isn't Everest. On Everest you can hire sherpas to take most of the risks. This is a whole different type of climbing."

In 2008, longtime climbers and friends Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk reached within 100m of Meru's summit. Under brutal conditions, they were forced to turn back. The vowed never to attempt the journey again. Until 2011— when they returned with a camera.

Meru chronicles of the first ascent of the Shark Fin, opening this week at the Angelika.